Bata-TST: Pawan leads but Lakshina also marks the list

Pawan Dias of Royal College Panadura, the inaugural leader of the All-Island Schools segment of the 37th Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016 contest, continues with his dominance for the second week running. 

He received the 366 votes in the concluded week, taking his tally to 634 as he leads second placed Lakshina Rodrigo of St. Peter’s College by 146 votes. 

At third is Ravin Sayer of Trinity College while Malshan Rodrigo of St. Joseph’s College and Lahiru Thmabawita of Holy Cross College, forming a formidable top five. 

With Pasindu Sooriyabandara of Royal College Colombo at sixth close behind the top five, the contest of this segment can give surprising results as the competition grows.  

Top names in the ongoing Schools Under-19 Division I Tournament are well within reach to become close contenders for the Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year crown from the seventh place to the bottom. 

Among them are players from top cricket plating schools who are better than the other in different aspects. 

However the margins are not that big as the competition is just progressing in the second week. 

The composure could change as the competition moves on with more keen readers and supporters of players joining in to support them. 

To remind the readers of standards and regulations of the Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year competition, the names of the schools appearing in the coupon are those who are competing in the Division I segment of Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association. 

According to the performances of the respective schools each year, their Divisions are determined by the Schools Cricket authorities. 

This competition follows the same guidelines when it comes to segments. 

Schools mentioned in the coupon are contesting in Division I and one of their schoolboy cricketers will be eligible for the Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year crown. 

Well known schools such as Wesley, St. Anthony’s Katugastota, Revatha Balapitiya, St. Anne’s Kurunegala (presently in Division II) and schools that were demoted from the Division I last year, are in the Emerging Schools category. 

Cricketers of schools that are not mentioned in the coupon, contesting in the Division II and III categories qualify for the Emerging Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year.   

The only the name to appear in the Emerging Schools category is of Madawa Fernando’s from De La Salle College Mutwal and he seems to in a position to dominate this segment right till the end. 

The International Schools category is yet to kick off. 

Coupons of the 37th Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2015 will appear on Wijeya Newspaper’s dailies, the Daily Mirror and Lankadeepa and also its weekend English issue, the Sunday Times and the Sinhala weekly Deshaya. 

Readers will be able to send in as much as coupons in favour of their favourite schoolboy cricketer until mid May. 

All-Island Schools

Pawan Dias (Royal College Panadura) 634

Lakshina Rodrigo (St. Peter’s College) 488

Ravin Sayer (Trinity College) 379

Malshan Rodrigo (St. Joseph’s College) 296

Lahiru Thambawita (Holy Cross College) 211

Pasindu Sooriyabandara (Royal College) 163

Ravindu Kodituwakku (S. Thomas’ College) 87

Gishath Panditharathne (Royal College) 76

Himasha Hashen (Dharmapala Pannipitiya) 74

Charana Nanayakkara (Thurstan College) 53

Kamindu Mendis (Richmond College) 47

Yohan Mendis (S. Thomas’ College) 44

Geethal Fernando (St. Benedict’s College) 40

Kavindu Bandara (Nalanda College) 39

Charith Asalanka (Richmond College) 38

Nipun Samarasinghe (St. Joseph’s College) 35

Thulina Dilshan (St. Benedict’s College) 28

Sachinda Gamadikari (Maris Stella College) 23

Lasith Embuldeniya (Royal College) 22

Sammu Ashan (Ananda College) 21

Emerging Schools

Madawa Fernando (De La Salle College Mutwal) 51